This October was full of family- we were luck enough to take a family trip to Wisconsin and Minnesota. Because we were out of town a bit and because of our never ending remodel, it was a different year for Halloween and October traditions, but still lots of fun. We started the month with a Jefferson family wiffle ball game and discovered that Pop pop can bat left handed. It got rainy and chilly the first part of October and Jefferson and Bella didn't mind it one bit- they love cozy reading time. Mom Jefferson and I got to see the opera Zorro. We harvested our basil and have a freezer full of pesto- much to Brad's delight. Our flight was delayed significantly going to Minnesota so we started our family vacation with a staycation and took the boys to IHOP for the first time and watched Avengers Infinity War and Endgame. We started the Avengers movies in July and have had lots of family movie nights to get to this point- with the goal to see the new Avengers movie in theaters in December. Carter especially loved the flight as he has not been on a plane since he was a baby. After a late night arriving in Minnesota and Brad getting pulled over for not having the lights on in the rental car (lol), we arrived at Jody and Stacey's house and the next morning headed to Wisconsin. Aunt Carolyn and cousin Christie took us on a tour in the cemetery. Brad was amazed how the Jefferson line went all the way back to the original homesteaders from Ireland. We had a walk through the woods and took some family pictures (thanks cousin Christie!) and then watched the beautiful sunset over the lake and Aunt Tony took the boys on ATV rides through the fields. We had a tour through the old white house- built after the civil war and again Brad was amazed and thought it was like a museum. The kids played the pump organ that the pioneers brought across the plains and then made its way to Wisconsin. The next day we checked out the famous Wisconsin Dells. We took a boat tour and enjoyed the beautiful October scenery. We made a Culvers stop and got our fill of cheese curds. On our way back we climbed Rabbit Rock- Jefferson all the way to the top and ended the night with more ATV fun. Our drive back to Minnesota was fallesque beautiful and we snacked at Ellsworth creamery and stocked up on cheese curds. When we got back to Minnesota we ate at the best Vietnamese restaurant which reminded us of our favorite in SLC that sadly is now closed. Guess we have to go to Minnesota if we want amazing Vietnamese food- the egg rolls. Jody and Stacey took us to Minnesota's Largest Candy Store- the biggest in the world and it did not disappoint. Jefferson got a fortune card saying he would meet his soulmate at a carnival and Carter misunderstood and was so worried that Jefferson would lose his soul at a carnival LOL. We got to see all the cousins that night and laughed at Carter's Michael Jackson dance. The next day we checked out the Mall of America- amusement park, Bubba Gump lunch, and searching for the perfect souvenir. Brad met his spice match at the Pepper Palace- didn't have to go the hospital, but lots of coughing and hic ups. And after much searching and stress Carter decided on the Lamine Yamal jersey. And that night we finished the liberty puzzle we were working on the entire stay with Jody and Stacey. We came home to a 3 year old Bella and had her birthday party- a pupcake and game of Bella-ball. And then Halloween was upon us- the boys both wanted to be Michael Jackson and Brad, Bella, and I were rockers. We rocked out at the Jefferson family Halloween party. We got super into the World Series- probably because Carter played baseball this year and during our 6 hour layover in Denver the World Series game 2 was playing and most especially because we just got back from Wisconsin and decided to be Brewers fans, so we were psyched when the Brewers won- and almost swept the World Series. Bella was less enthused and just wanted to cuddle her duck. The boys worked hard and finished their reflections project- Jefferson made a 5 generation fan from family search and showed the people with Lego characters and labels. And we ended the month with Jefferson walking in his last Halloween parade (sob). Carter said he was going to moonwalk the parade but decided poses would be ok too. Carter wasn't feeling too great so skipped out on trick or treating, luckily all the Halloween parties and trunk or treats earlier in the week filled his candy bag. So we had a cozy Halloween with football- Go Utes 8-0, and our home made pot pie, and a movie- no Hocus Pocus this time (much to Brad's relief)- everyone is too Marvel obsessed.
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